New Ulm weekly review., 1887-11-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Washington, d. c., Nov. Is, 1887.
One Of the most notable characters
that can be seen nearly every day upon
the beautiful drive to the Soldiers
Home, is the historian Bancroft. He
is nearly ninety years of age, but can
ride his horse as gracefully as dashing
Brigadier. Every day he devotes GER
tain hours to labor on his exhausting
history Of the United States, and then
mounts his horse aud with his valet a
few rods in the rear, goes flying into
the country for recreation. There is
something remarkable in his personal
appearance. Tall and straight, long
white hair hanging to his shoulders,
thin face with full beard, and head
covered with an ordinary cloth cap
with an unusually large vizar. All take
delight in doing him honor, and point
with pride to the great literary achieve
ments of the grand old American.
never knew until the other day how
they tested concrete foundation, and
was. greatly interested in the expert
ment witnessed at the new Congress
sional Library site. You know that it is
to be an immense structure, and must
have good foundation. They will
use there over 10000 barrels of cement.
The ground on which the concrete is
laid is required to stand pressure of
two and a half tons to the square foot.
Now in making these tests the process
is this! -Four short iron pillars are
PLACED on the ground about four feet
apart. These are exactly one foot
square at the bottom, and resting on
these are two iron rods about a foot in
height, on which is flat car loaded
with thirty tons of pig lead, and this
weight being equally divided between
the four square foot covered by the iron
pillars. solve the problem. Everything
used in this building will be subjected
to the severest test and when completed
will be finest structure on this CONT
nent, if not the wide world.
Congress sometimes makes the most
egregious blunders. Last winter they
passed "an act to restrict the owner
ship of real estate in the Territories to
A,,,o,;oo, o;+;1oA,c1, opd h. 1,o ;,,o+ rI;e
covered that in the body Of the act the
District Of Columbia is also included.
This will preclude even foreign lega-
tions from owning more real estate in
Washington, which certainly was never
intended unless by the crafty politician
who drew the bill. Several Congress-
men have been interviewed, who ex-
press their entire ignorance Of such
legislation until shown the act, which
of course will be speedily amended.
But then it shows how careless even
our law makers are. .-..-
The Department of Agriculture has
gathered some very instructive and
suggestive statistics. There was plant
ed this year Is, 100000 acres of corn,
which gave an average yield of twenty
bushels to the acre. The potato crop
averages ffty.four bushels to the acre
and the yield aggregates 134, 100000
bushels, 3O,OOO,O0O less than last year.
Other figures are being tabulated at the
Department, and will be itemized in
subsequent letters.
All concede that the late elections
settle beyond question the re-nomina-
ton of President CleAeland, but how it
will effect the second on the ticket is
not quite so clear. Gen. Blacks boom
has pretty much subsidized. That OF
Gen. Villas is looking up a little. South,
ern men say they do not ask for or
want it, and are willing it should go to
the West, but want no soldier. An In
diana civilian stands the best chance.
and the one most likley to carry that
state will win the prize.